McClellin or Mercilus (or Jones)? Bears made the call
When their turn at No. 19 in the 2012 draft came, the anticipated run on edge pass rushers had started. It was the Bears priority in round one.
After the defensive tackles were taken (Dontari Poe 11th to Kansas City, Fletcher Cox 12th to Philadelphia, Michael Brockers 14th to St. Louis), the Seattle Seahawks grabbed Bruce Irvin 15th. The Jets took Quinton Coples 16th and San Diego chose Melvin Ingram 18th.
Whether the Bears would have taken any of those is conjecture, and GM Phil Emery elected to stand at 19 rather than trade up. The Bears selected Shea McClellin and New England opted for Chandler Jones at 21.
When Houstons turn came at 26 they followed their pick of J.J. Watt at No. 11 last year with Illinois Whitney Mercilus.
Who had the best pass-rush draft?
McClellin, behind Israel Idonije on the Bears defensive-end depth charts, has 2.5 sacks (three according to ProFootballFocus.com), two tackles for loss and nine quarterback pressures.
Mercilus, behind Connor Barwin on the Houston outside-linebacker depth chart, has two sacks, one tackle for loss and one quarterback hit.
The longer it goes, expectations for him grows and grows, said defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli. We want to see more. Just the little things sometimes, the habits, guys have a tendency to revert back to something. He works, thats the big thing, and hes got speed. So thatll just keep coming for him. Just keep working.
(Jones, from Syracuse, is starting for the Patriots with six sacks, eight quarterback hits and 20 hurries.)
Trade winds that worked
Just before the season opened, the Bears traded fullback Tyler Clutts to the Houston Texans in return for cornerback Sherrick McManis. Clutts was the lead blocker for Matt Forte last year but in the one-back system of Mike Tice, the Bears had less use for a fullback than a special-teams starter.
Both teams are pleased with the way the deal has worked out.
McManis blocked the Tennessee Titans punt that Corey Wootton lugged into the end zone for a touchdown last Sunday.
Clutts has played in all eight Houston games as a reserve fullback and on special teams.
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